This album emits a stench similar to the stench of Lorde's most contrived songs off Melodrama. I tried to maintain some semblance through the first two tracks, but every next song proved to be more noxious than the last. The production is nearly pristine, complimented by a dazzling exhibition of un-artistry! It's not as tasteful as the band would like for you to assume. Matthew Healy conveys a fetching facade, and girls will swoon to the album's "dramatic" arc (probably trembling after track 5).

Do not be fooled. Healy's personality is derived not from within, but rather from an agnostic taste in music. There are nods to (read: emulations of) Burial, Chance's gospel flavorings, any other semi-alternative rock band that's ever existed. I'm sure for a lot of you it "makes sense" to compare this album to OK Computer, just like it "makes sense" that women shouldn't be allowed in the military. This album was made for you to draw such ridiculous comparisons. This album was made to be reviewed well... ... Understand this.

I mean you're entitled to your opinion. Honestly I love this music with a passion, and I'm a person who likes David Bowie, Radiohead, The Smiths and other greats. There is no "objective" when it comes to music. This is art we're talking about, after all. If a record does something for ya, that can't be taken away by what others claim is "objectively good."

P.S. that's not how you use "semblance" in a sentence. And please don't comment on Healy's personality. Grow up and focus on the music.

And you said there is no objective in music haha. Sorry, kinda funny to read this line because you seem to say that as you have considered great artists in your playlist, your opinion is more relevant.

WildChameleon yes true I should have specified I meant those who have been historically considered greats. Doesn't mean they're great, but it does mean that someone (like myself) can simultaneously love them and a band like The 1975. That's the point I was attempting to make, in response to the original reviewer's (seeming) allusion that comparisons objectively shouldn't be made between Radiohead and The 1975.

In music you can love anything you want, I don't think it's relevant to say that you like the 1975 who are often critizize by some "superiorities" and other prized band. There is something we cannot explain sometimes haha.

I also said in my premature review that I don't see the comparison between Radiohead and the 1975 haha. But yes the comparisons in my opinion shouldn't be made but subjectively.

@WildChameleon, thank you again. Their response wasn't relevant to anything. I think M2L2 is just sad that someone doesn't like the album. I tried to fake excitement before listening--it's the only way I could enjoy an album by a band for which I've already consolidated such strong (negative) opinions, but it's hard to continue to fake excitement for something that's contrived in almost every aspect.

And in response to your non-response, @M2L2, I think it's pretty obvious we can enjoy music from different realms of obscurity. You sound worried that someone might take away your right to an opinion. I also never said comparisons shouldn't be made, but it demonstrates your availability of music knowledge when you make the comparison to OK Computer--it's a lazy comparison. I still don't even know why you like this album... at least I gave reasons for my opinion.

I actually initially gave a like to this review @76fex because it reminded me so much of my Lorde one. I took it away though because I probably will never listen to this album, so it didn't feel fair to side without listening to it. However, judging by what critics are saying about it and how they basically said the exact same thing about Melodrama, I'd wager I'd end up agreeing with you on this album. Calculated authenticity is like my personal definition of what music should never be.

I don't think it's headass or counter-cultural to call a spade a spade here. This album is horrendous, trite bullshit. It's insulting that I have to look around and see this compared to OKC or the new Earl (at least a tolerable project) billed as this generation's Madvillainy on the same day.

Some of y'all need to stop using critics as a stepping stone to validate your fucking opinions. I'm tired of seeing users talk shit about critics in comments & reviews only to then see them use the very same outlets to defend their own opinions when they conveniently line up.

@76fex my spiel about subjectivity was mostly due to your "my year end list will be objectively better than dyelir's" comment, which made me really distrust your review from the outset. As for the reasons I like the album, those are in my own review.

I would be very careful trying to deduce an artist's intention just from the music that was produced. Good examples would be the latest Linkin Park and XXX albums. These artists tried to create something very real and emotional and just ended producing extremely trite and offensive listens of little emotional value. I would understand your negative opinion if you didn't immediately associate it with artist intention.

So many people on this website seem to assign this "calculated" and "contrived" to all the highest rated pop albums and when I look into their ratings I don't see a single pop album they have rated highly. If you are truly just adverse to pop music you can just say it instead of dismissing all of their artistic integrity.

I will be a bit defensive because I'm tired of seeing : you don't like this album, maybe you despise the entire genre". For my case, it's really true for hip hop. But for pop ? Nah. There are way too much different forms, it's "criminal" to just say "pop = radio". So why I need to lose huge amount of time to focus on one album and the artist intention if I don't enjoy the listening ? Specially when the topics are immediat and the sonority doesn't suit my tastes.

"pop" is an ill-defined genre. "pop" should indicate the nature of it's inception. do the methods of creation use conventional and current techniques or do they seek to establish new sonic territory? Pop vs Experimentation. This is the comparison for which we should be defining "pop".

Well we can't let this thread stop NOW, can we? I'd wager, @76fex, that you are wrong about "absolutely nobody" talking about this album in a year's time. It is not the cultural touchstone that some critics have annoyingly resorted to labeling it as, but I reckon it will still be discussed fondly by many for a long time. Especially if the band actually manages to release a solid fourth LP next year. And then, when I'm still hearing people talk about it, I'll dance a jig for you my friend.

I was actually just going to comment how this website's conversation surrounding this record went basically silent as soon as it got taken off the front page. It went impressively fast, much faster than I expected